The Dancing Mushroom!

Hunting mushrooms in Wisconsin

"Hunting" is certainly a good word to describe the pursuit of yummy mushrooms in the deep dark woods. It is a simple and fun activity, and the results are rewarding and tasty indeed.

Step 1: Research what it is you're looking for and what season it emerges in, and what trees it grows near or on. We look for Hen of the Woods mushrooms that grow at the base of Oak trees in the fall. In spring we look for Morels that grow near dead Ash trees.

​Step 2: Walk into the woods

Step 3: Keep a keen eye and look for the right environment, and tree type, where your quarry may be hiding. Do not eat anything that you are not 100% certain is the mushroom you are looking for. Do not rely only on the photo's on this page for mushroom identification. If in doubt, don't risk it, there are deadly poisonous mushrooms. That said, be not afraid! Just be informed. Get a mushroom identification guide. I used the following sites for identification information:http://www.michiganmorels.com/morels2.shtml

What a beauty! A good size Hen of the Woods found in southeast Wisconsin at the foot of an old Oak. The mushrooms grow in northern Japan and in North America, and maybe elsewhere, I don't know. In Japan, they are called "Maitake", which I am told means "dancing mushroom" on account of the happy emotion that causes one to dance upon finding one.

A bumper-crop of Wisconsin Morels picked in Spring; nice work Justin and Danika!

Tips:

​Use a mushroom identification guide and be completely certain that you have positively identified the mushroom before eating it. If in doubt, do not eat it, there are deadly poisonous mushrooms.

Take a sharp knife to cut the mushroom off just above the ground. If you are hunting Hen of the Woods mushrooms, take a long knife as the base of the mushroom can be a long way in from the outside of the big mushroom.

Carry your harvested mushrooms out of the forest in a mesh bag so that spores from the mushroom can fall into the forest and perhaps yield new mushrooms in the future.

Mushrooms are natural little guys that live close to the ground, and other little critters and bugs live around and in them. Be not afraid of a wee little insect you may find. There will likely be some in a Hen of the Woods.

I clean up the mushroom with a dry soft paintbrush and usually cook them right away. A big one can be kept in the refrigerator, for example I may eat a large Hen Of The Woods over the course of a week.

I slice them, clean them, get rid of any critters, and then sautée them in butter with garlic. Sometimes I add in a bit of soy sauce.

Probably best to wear long pants as you may be climbing through underbrush, and if there are mosquitoes and tics around, wear bug repellent.